HISTORY OF PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNITS AND AN ANALYSIS OF THE RECENT STATUS IN TURKEY WITH EXAMPLES

Abstract

As in every field of architectural design, determining the set of criteria to guide the design of Pediatric Intensive Care Units, that serve a specific user, greatly affects the efficient use of space. To improve efficiency of Pediatric Intensive Care Units, it is necessary to examine a variety of factors ranging from the relationship between staff - patient - relatives of the patient equipment, to the location of the unit within the hospital. Today, the determination of failures in the few Pediatric Intensive Care Units in Turkey and the research and examination of examples from around the world containing both good and bad conditions are important in the identification of problems and the creation of a contemporary design. In the architectural design of Pediatric Intensive Care Units, cognitive, social and personal features as well as physical dimensions require children and adults to be treated as two separate categories. The purpose of this study is to convey the history and development process from the first example of Pediatric Intensive Care Units that was founded in Sweden in 1955 on which extensive work has been initiated especially in the medical world, until the present day. In this context, following the history of this unit, the current situation of the Pediatric Intensive Care Units in Turkey will be examined in the light of face-to-face interviews with and observations of staff and patient relatives in three teaching and training hospitals in Istanbul.